Lead Hardware Engineer

Anduril Industries; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full Family Health Coverage

16 Weeks Paid Parental Leave

Unlimited Provisions

Professional Development

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Lead Hardware Engineer in Boulder, Colorado, responsible for developing cutting-edge imaging systems to enhance national security. This role involves leading multidisciplinary teams, executing hardware design, and transitioning prototypes to production.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in NPI, scaling hardware, and strong technical leadership. Benefits include full family health coverage and 16 weeks of paid parental leave.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience developing and deploying complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience managing New Product Introduction (NPI) and hardware scaling.
• Strong technical breadth spanning mechanical, electrical, optical, and test disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Lead domain-specific technical execution and hardware architecture.
• Transition high-precision systems from prototypes to production.
• Define hardware architecture and component selection for the product line.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional engineering

System design

Project management

Technical problem solving

Education

Degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering, systems engineering, physics, or a hard science

Tools

Advanced design software

Optical test equipment

Job description

Responsibilities

• The Anduril Imaging team develops state-of-the-art imaging systems across both hardware and software, deployed to tackle the most significant security challenges of America and its allies
• The team is heavily involved in utilizing computer vision, perception, electro-optical, infrared, and sensor data to give our war fighters and allies an advantage
• As the Lead Hardware Engineer for our ladar product line, you will be responsible for the domain-specific detailed technical execution, hardware architecture, and engineering execution across all hardware disciplines (mechanical, electrical, optical, and test)
• You will transition our high-precision active electro-optical (EO) systems from early-stage prototypes and Engineering Development Units (EDUs) through Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), and ultimately into scaled, high-rate production
• Anduril Imaging Hardware Lead Engineers are responsible for hardware architecture, development execution, and overall technical strategy for land, sea, air, and space EO/IR applications
• In this role, you will lead trade studies to define EO/IR system architectures, lead the multidisciplinary detailed design, analysis, and integration and test of EO/IR prototypes and products
• You will lead a small team of engineers from concept ideation through system definition and development
• You will carry products in your portfolio through NPI into production, and have overall oversight in to hardware sustainment and evolutionary development activities
• You will help shape internal and external investment priorities to grow the scope and impact of your product family
• Define the “How” of Hardware: Own domain-specific hardware architecture, component selection, physical design, and detailed mechanical, electrical, optical, and test engineering
• Transition and Scale Production: Lead the critical transition of our hardware from low-volume, hard-to-build prototype units to a high-rate EMD production environment
• Deliver Major Milestones: Lead hardware preparation, technical artifacts, and clear-to-build criteria for upcoming program milestones, including Hardware SRR, PDR, CDR, and Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRR)
• Manage EMD & NPI Builds: Own the hardware side of New Product Introduction (NPI). Coordinate, inventory, and lead the assembly of final EDU and EMD-1 builds, ensuring they are ready for field testing and environmental Design Verification Testing (DVT)
• Design & Ruggedize Test Equipment: Architect, build, and ruggedize manufacturing and optical test equipment to ensure highly efficient, repeatable, and automated testing on the production floor
• Define V+V Metrics: Define, implement, and track hardware Verification and Validation (V+V) metrics Lead HW to ensure absolute system reliability in extreme physical environments
• Staffing & Collaboration: Partner closely with the Chief Engineer. Work directly with functional engineering leads to ensure your product line has sufficient, high-performing hardware engineering staffing
• Hardware Sustainment: Own the detailed hardware Continuous Improvement (CI) roadmap, oversee the hardware Configuration Control/Change Review Board (CRB), and drive rapid resolution of hardware field issues

Benefits

• Full Family Health Coverage
• 16 Weeks Paid Parental Leave for All Caregivers
• Family Planning & Support
• Incentivized Time Off
• Mental Health Resources
• Financial Planning
• Unlimited Provisions
• Professional Development

Requirements

• Travel: Willingness to travel to test sites and manufacturing facilities as needed
• Leadership: Strong track record of leading high-performance, cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced environment
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance
• Technical Breadth: Deep engineering skillset spanning mechanical, electrical, optical, and test disciplines, with proven experience performing system design, architecture definition, and performance modeling
• Education: Degree in a technical field such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering, systems engineering, physics, or a hard science
• NPI & Scale Experience: Proven experience managing New Product Introduction (NPI), leading initial system builds, and managing hardware scaling or sustainment at scale
• Experience: 8+ years of experience developing and deploying complex electromechanical, electro-optical, or active sensing systems
• Ladar/EO Domain Expertise: Direct experience defining, designing, and testing active optical/imaging systems, Ladar/Lidar, or high-precision pointing architectures
• TRL Transition Experience: Proven success transitioning hardware from low Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) / rapid prototyping environments to high-reliability, qualified EMD and production programs
• Testing & DVT: Strong hands‑on experience with environmental testing standards (thermal, shock, vibration) and using advanced design, simulation, and optical test equipment
• Supply Chain and Operations: Familiarity with supply chain coordination, inventory management, and defining “clear to build” metrics for complex assemblies